Expansible toe form



Aug. 30, 1932. w J DE w 1,874,924

EXPANSIBLE TOE FORM Filed Jan. 26. 1931 711119 @5207 vzgya.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. ma:

' EXPANSIBLE 'roii roam V a Application filed January 26, 1931. Serialno. 511,165.

This invention relates to an improvement any roughness or uneveness inthe shoe in which it is inserted and prevents its advance into theproper position, second, there is a backward tendency exerted againstthe toe form when in the proper position which is resisted only by therearward part of the.

form and to overcome which prongs which engage the inner sole have beenprovided, as shown in my Patent No. 1,632,955, dated June 21, 1927, orback part wires have been attached to the toe form to contact with theheel counter, as shown in my Patent No. 1,646,016, dated October 18,1927, third, the expansion of the form can obviously take place only atthe rearward part and hence only the material at the ball of the shoe isplaced under tension.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a toe form having ashell with an open ended toe and cross braces by which the side walls ofthe shell are yieldably expanded throughout their length and thus bearwith a balanced pressure against those portions of the shoe with whichthey contact.

A toe form embodying this invention overcomes the various objectionsnoted above,

since its open end permits the advance of the form to the properposition in the shoe and also allows the forward ends of the side walls,as well as the rearward ends, to shift laterally, thus providing abalanced pressure throughout the extent of the side walls so that notonly are all portions of the toe prop erly tensioned but also thetendency. of the form to move backward is resisted by the contact of thewhole surface of the form with the shoe and not by the contact of therearward portion only.

.One embodiment of a toe form made according to this invention isdescribed in the; following specificationand illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which: F igs. 1 and 2 are a plan view: and sideelevation respectively of such a toe form in its normal condition; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are bottomplan views there-' wrrr, or AUBURN, NEW YOAssIGNoR TO SHOE FORM (10., INC., on AUBURN, NEW, yonx, A CORPORATION onNEW YORK I of, the, forward end of the form in Fig. 3

being contracted, and the rearward end proportionally expanded, while.the rearward end of the form in Fig. 4 is contracted and the forward endproportionately expanded v the cross braces remaining in the same p0sitlon in both figures.

In the drawing the toe form comprises a shell 10 and cross braces 20.The shell is of resilient, flexible material, for examplecelluloid,having sidewalls l1 and 12 Whichterminate in inwardly projecting flanges13 and 14 respectively. The toe 15 of the form is, open ended and theflanges 13 and 14 are notconnected as in the toe forms shown iii thepatents above cited. In the flanges 14- and.

13 near the rear end thereof are formediarcuate slots 16 and 17respectively with which the cross braces co-act. r

The 'cr'ossbra'ces 20 comprise two bars 21, l 22, the forward end ofeach bar being pivotally secured to the flanges 13 and 14$.by'rivets23.; [The rearwardend of each bar is slidable in a slot in the flangeopposite to the flange to which the bar is pivoted and in the presentinstance carries a rivet 25, the shank of which passes through the slot.Suitable bosses 26, are formed in the'flanges by which the'bars areengaged tohold them removably in the desired adjustedposition When thetoe form is inserted into-the shoe the open end of-the shell-permits itto advance the/proper amount, regardless of any roughness or unevennessat the toe. In

Figs. 3 and'4 are illustrated the positions theform'would assume wheninserted into shoes differing in contour. After the form has beeninserted the cross bars 21, 22are swung forwardly in the slots 16and-'17 to expand the shell; This mov,ementof the] l bars tendsprimarily toexpand the rearward H part'of the shell but it is obviousthat if, for example, the rearward end of the side wall side walls willbear withbalanced pressure 11 is in contact with the wall of the shoewhile the forward end of the side wall 12 is away that end will beadvanced into contact bythe pressure of the cross bar 22. At the sametime if the torward end of the side. wall ll is away from the shoe wallthat end of the side wall' 11 will move ontward-ly,' and, while therearwardendof the side wall would tend to be moved proportionatelyinwardly by this action oi' the sidewall, it=would,. on; theother hand,beheldinthe proper posit}; tion by the cross bar 22. Consequently afterthe form has'been advanced into theproper: position andadjusted by thecross bars, the

throughout their extent upon the portions V of'thesh'oe with which theyare in contact.

The materialformin'g the toe of the shoe will thus be'prop erly plumpedout and at the "Qfittllfiq time this contact ofthe shell with the r shoetoe will resist thetendency of the toe form to retreat and hold it inplace u'nti'lthe Crossbars have been retracted and thepressure of theshell againstthe toe ofthe shoe gs reduced; V r Theforward edge oi -theshell at the open toe '15 may, if'ide'sired', be stiifened slightly; asbyjrolling or by the provision of beadl or narrow flange" 30 for thepurpose of "gm, seeing this edge a trifle more stiilnessor rigid- Zity,and to render the sliding of the form intothe 'forepart of theshoe'without interfering extending flanges, and cross braces engagingriavi g.rans pe eende n ei nd;inwa dly:

extendingygfianges eachgflange having an arcuate slot and cross bracesengaging said flaliges,-eachi cross brace being pivotally connected atone end to one of said flanges and slidableat the otherendin the slot ofthe opposite flanges, is l Signed "by meat Auburn, ,N'w York thisappreciably -.with the expansion or contracr 1 tion ottthe shell asdescribed hereinabove. 35; While one embodiment of this invention hasbeen shown and described i am not limited thereto since otherembodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set fo th in the folg-lowing claims.

I claim: v i 7' 1. Aniexpansible toe form for insertion into the toe ofa shoe comprising a hollow thin walled-shell of resilient fiex-ible'matei g riahhaving an open-ended toe andacrossw braces connecting theside walls of said shell;

the-side walls of the shell bearing throughout I their extent'withbalancedpressure against those portions of theshoe with which they YBi'ggCOIltflClL' 2.:An expansible toe form for insertioninto the toe ofashoecomprising-ahollow thin walled shell of resilient, flexiblematerialhaving ano-pen-ended toe and cross tagbraces connecting the sidewalls of said shell,

one at least of'said cross braces being adjust able to separate the sidewall of the shell,I and said side walls by reasonof the open ended toebearing with balanced pressure ee'ith'roughout their extent againstthose poretions or, the shoe with which theycontact, v

3. An expansible toe form for insertion into thestoe ofa shoecomprisingahollow r thin walled shell .01 resilient, fiexibl'e matew l i ngen Op-e d d a dr' w d yr

